Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · Michigan · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 5560: Labor: hours and wages; regulation of wages and fringe benefits; provide for exemption for certain earned wage access services. Amends 1978 PA 390 (MCL 408.471 - 408.490) by adding sec. 18a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5558'26

HB 5560 exempts "earned wage access services" (like apps allowing workers to access earned wages before payday) from Michigan's standard wage and fringe benefit laws, as defined in the separate "earned wage access services act." This exemption applies only to services complying with that specific act, removing them from the scope of the existing 1978 wage law (MCL 408.471-408.490). The bill is conditional, requiring the enactment of HB 5558 first before taking effect. It directly affects providers of these early-wage access services, allowing them to operate under different rules than traditional wage payment systems.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExempts earned wage access services from wage laws, weakening worker protections under existing regulations by removing coverage for fringe benefits and wage standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Michigan · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 5541: Worker's compensation: benefits; calculation of average weekly wage; modify. Amends sec. 371 of 1969 PA 317 (MCL 418.371) & adds sec. 612.

HB 5541 modifies Michigan's worker's compensation law to change how overtime pay is counted for calculating average weekly wage for injured workers at small businesses (employers with 50 or fewer employees). Instead of counting overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate, the bill requires using the regular hourly rate for overtime hours, which lowers the average weekly wage and reduces both benefits for injured workers and employer insurance premiums. Insurers must apply the lower premium rate if this change results in a reduced cost, and the provision expires December 31, 2028. This affects small business employers, their injured employees, and worker's compensation insurers.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill reduces injured workers' benefits by calculating overtime at regular rate instead of 1.5x, lowering average weekly wage and benefits. Weakens worker compensation protections per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Michigan · House Mar 4, 2025

HR 29: A resolution to urge the United States Congress to pass legislation temporarily freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program.

This resolution urges Congress to freeze the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for H-2A agricultural workers at the 2023 level ($15.10/hour) through 2025. It directly affects Michigan farmers who rely on the H-2A program, as the current 2025 AEWR in Michigan is $18.15/hour - a 34% increase since 2019. The resolution seeks to prevent further wage hikes for temporary farm workers, aiming to reduce rising labor costs amid broader farm expense increases. It does not change existing law but calls on Congress to pass legislation implementing this freeze.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill freezes H-2A wage rate at $15.10 (vs. $18.15), limiting wage protections for immigrant agricultural workers, directly opposing higher compensation standards.92% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentFreezes H-2A wage rate at $15.10/hr (2023 level) to prevent 34% increase since 2019, opposing higher wages for agricultural workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jun 24, 2025

SB 436: Labor: collective bargaining; right to work; restore. Amends secs. 1, 2, 14 & 17 of 1939 PA 176 (MCL 423.1 et seq.).

SB 436 amends Michigan's labor law to restore a "right to work" provision, prohibiting employers and labor organizations from requiring employees to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. The bill explicitly bans mandatory union dues (Section 14(2)), making any agreement requiring such payments unlawful and unenforceable after its effective date. It also allocates $1 million to the Department of Labor for public education and implementation support regarding these changes. The bill directly affects employees (who can no longer be forced to pay union fees), employers (who cannot require such payments), and labor organizations (which must operate under voluntary membership).

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBans mandatory union dues, weakening collective bargaining by restricting union funding and membership obligations per Section 14(2).95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 438: Labor: hours and wages; 2023 PA 10; repeal. Repeals 2023 PA 10 (MCL 408.1101 - 408.1126).

SB 438 repeals 2023 PA 10, which required prevailing wages and fringe benefits for workers on state construction projects. This bill directly affects state contractors and construction workers by removing the requirement to pay prevailing wages on state-funded projects. The repeal eliminates the specific legal provisions (MCL 408.1101-408.1126) that governed wage standards and penalties for noncompliance. As a procedural repeal, it makes no new policy changes but removes the existing law.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals prevailing wage requirements (MCL 408.1101-408.1126) for state construction projects, removing mandated higher wages/benefits for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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passed both · Michigan · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 4017: Labor: health and safety; penalty for failure to report a death; decrease by the maximum allowable amount if the death occurs to a certain individual on a family farm. Amends sec. 35 of 1974 PA 154 (MCL 408.1035).

HB 4017 modifies workplace safety reporting rules by reducing the maximum penalty for failing to report a death if the death occurs on a family farm. It specifically lowers the penalty amount for employers who don't report fatalities involving certain individuals (like family members) working on their own farm. The bill affects employers in Michigan who operate family farms and are subject to workplace safety laws under MCL 408.1035. This change directly alters the penalty structure for reporting requirements related to farm-related workplace deaths.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentReduces penalties for failing to report workplace fatalities on family farms, weakening enforcement of safety reporting requirements under MCL 408.1035.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Workplace Safety

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in committee · Michigan · Senate Oct 22, 2025

SB 623: Labor: health and safety; time to submit a complaint; modify. Amends sec. 65 of 1974 PA 154 (MCL 408.1065).

SB 623 shortens the deadline for Michigan employees to file workplace discrimination complaints related to safety concerns. It changes the current 180-day window for filing a complaint after retaliation to 30 days. This directly affects employees who report safety issues and employers who may retaliate against them. The bill modifies the existing Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act to require complaints be filed within 30 days of the discriminatory act, streamlining the process for addressing retaliation. The change is procedural and does not alter other protections or enforcement mechanisms under the act.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill shortens complaint window from 180 to 30 days, restricting workers' ability to report safety issues and seek redress for retaliation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workers' Compensation Workplace Safety

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passed both · Michigan · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 4492: Labor: hours and wages; sharing gratuities with other employees; allow an employer to require. Amends sec. 4d of 2018 PA 337 (MCL 408.934d).

House Bill 4492 proposes changes to the state's wage act regarding employees who receive gratuities, commonly known as tipped employees. Currently, employees can voluntarily share their tips with co-workers. This bill would allow employers to require tipped employees to share their gratuities with other employees, provided the initial tipped employee's gratuities still meet a specific wage threshold. This change directly affects employees who earn tips and their employers by altering the rules for gratuity distribution within a workplace.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAllows mandatory tip sharing, reducing employee control over earnings and weakening tip protection under wage laws, directly restricting worker compensation rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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